Pairing of wireless devices using a wired medium

ABSTRACT

Techniques that facilitate pairing of wireless devices with other wireless devices are disclosed. According to one aspect, a pair of wireless devices can be paired for wireless data exchange using an available wired link. Advantageously, the wired link can be used to transport a pin code from one of the wireless devices to the other. Consequently, pairing of the wireless devices can be completed without necessitating user entry of a pin code so long as the wired link is available.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is related to: (i) U.S. patent application Ser. No.11/245,937, filed Oct. 7, 2005, and entitled “TECHNIQUES FOR PAIRINGREMOTE CONTROLLERS WITH HOST DEVICES”, which is hereby incorporated byreference herein; and (ii) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/513,616,filed concurrently, and entitled “AUTOMATED PAIRING OF WIRELESSACCESSORIES WITH HOST DEVICE”, which is hereby incorporated by referenceherein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to wireless devices and, moreparticularly, to pairing wireless devices for authorized data exchange.

2. Description of the Related Art

Traditionally, headphones or earphones are connected to an audio outputdevice, such as a mobile phone, through a wired connection. The wiredconnection can, however, in many cases be cumbersome or annoying to theuser. Hence, in recent times, wireless headsets or earphones have beendeveloped. Typically, these wireless devices utilize BLUETOOTH shortrange local wireless network technology in order to wirelessly transmitdata between the headset or earphone and the mobile phone. As a result,there is no need for a wired connection between the headset or earphonesand the media player.

Unfortunately, however, before the wireless headset or earphone canoperate in a wireless manner with a mobile phone, the wireless headsetor earphone must be paired with the mobile phone. Pairing is a processthat is used to associate a headset or earphone with a particular mobilephone, and vice versa. The pairing provides for secure data transferbetween the devices, typically through use of encryption. Thus, thepairing helps ensure that the data being transferred is not only securedbut also transferred to the appropriate recipient device. Pairing,however, requires that a pin code be entered in order to pair a mobilephone with a headset or earphone. Entering of a pin code is sometimesproblematic for a user. For example, often mobile audio devices aresmall handheld devices and the entering of a pin code can be cumbersomegiven the small scale of mobile audio devices (e.g., mobile phones,portable music players, etc.). The mobile audio devices may also notoffer a user interface that supports ease of entry of a pin code. Stillfurther, users often do not know the appropriate pin code to beutilized.

Moreover, similar difficulties exist for other types of wireless devicesbesides headsets and earphones. For example, other wireless devices thatalso need to undergo pairing include remote controllers, computingdevices, peripheral devices, etc.

Thus, there is a need for improved techniques to facilitate pairing ofwireless devices.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention pertains to improved techniques that facilitate pairing ofwireless devices with other wireless devices. According to one aspect ofthe invention, a pair of wireless devices can be paired for wirelessdata exchange using an available wired link. Advantageously, the wiredlink can be used to transport a pin code from one of the wirelessdevices to the other. Consequently, pairing of the wireless devices canbe completed without necessitating user entry of a pin code so long asthe wired link is available.

The invention can be implemented in numerous ways, including as amethod, system, device, apparatus, or computer readable medium. Severalembodiments of the invention are discussed below.

As a method for pairing a host device with a wireless device, oneembodiment of the invention includes at least the acts of: detecting awired data link between the host device and the wireless device;establishing a wireless data link between the host device and thewireless device; retrieving a pin code internal to the host device;sending the pin code to the wireless device over the wired data link;receiving authentication data from the wireless device; authenticatingthe wireless device based on the received authentication data; andcompleting pairing of the host device with the wireless device when thewireless device has been authenticated.

As a host computing device with support for a wired data link and awireless data link, one embodiment of the invention includes at least: aconnection manager configured to detect a wired data link between thehost computing device and a wireless device; a wireless transceiver fortransferring data between the host computing device and the wirelessdevice over a wireless data link, and a pairing manager operativelyconnected to the peripheral bus driver and the wireless transceiver. Thepairing manager manages pairing of the host computing device and thewireless device. The pairing manager can operate to: (i) retrieve a pincode internal to the host computing device, (ii) send the pin code tothe wireless device over the wired data link, (iii) receiveauthentication data from the wireless device, and (iv) authenticate thewireless device based on the received authentication data.

As a method for pairing a wireless device with a host device, oneembodiment of the invention includes at least the acts of: detecting awired data link between the host device and the wireless device;detecting a wireless data link between the host device and the wirelessdevice; receiving a pin code over the wired data link from the hostdevice; generating authentication data at the wireless device based onthe pin code; sending the authentication data from the wireless deviceto the host device; and subsequently completing pairing of the wirelessdevice with the host device when authentication is successful.

As a computer readable medium including at least computer program codefor pairing a first wireless device with a second wireless device, oneembodiment of the invention includes at least: computer program code fordetecting a wired data link between the first wireless device and thesecond wireless device; computer program code for detecting a wirelessdata link between the first wireless device and the second wirelessdevice; computer program code for receiving, at the second wirelessdevice, a code over the wired data link from the first wireless device;and performing pairing operations to pair the first wireless device andthe second wireless device based on the code received over the wireddata link.

As an electronic device having wireless capabilities, another embodimentof the invention includes at least operating the electronic device suchthat pairing of the electronic device to another electronic devicehaving wireless capabilities includes electrically sending a code over aphysical connection between the electronic device and the anotherelectronic device.

Other aspects and advantages of the invention will become apparent fromthe following detailed description taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings which illustrate, by way of example, theprinciples of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be readily understood by the following detaileddescription in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein likereference numerals designate like structural elements, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a wireless pairing system according to oneembodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram of a wireless system according to one embodiment ofthe invention.

FIGS. 3A and 3B are flow diagrams of a host device pairing processaccording to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a flow diagram of a wireless device pairing process accordingto one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram of a host pairing process according to oneembodiment of the invention.

FIG. 6 is a flow diagram of an accessory pairing process according toone embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 7 is a flow diagram of wireless data transfer between a wirelesshost device and a wireless accessory device that have been successfullypaired.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention pertains to improved techniques that facilitate pairing ofwireless devices with other wireless devices. According to one aspect ofthe invention, a pair of wireless devices can be paired for wirelessdata exchange using an available wired link. Advantageously, the wiredlink can be used to transport a pin code from one of the wirelessdevices to the other. Consequently, pairing of the wireless devices canbe completed without necessitating user entry of a pin code so long asthe wired link is available.

The wired link can be implemented by a wired medium that physicallyprovides one or more electrical connections. Typically, the wired mediumis used to removably connect a pair of wireless devices. As one example,the wired medium can be a peripheral bus (e.g., USB or Firewire) cable(or cord) that removably connects the pair of wireless devices togetherand permits a peripheral bus to be established therebetween.

Of a pair of wireless devices being paired, one of the wireless devicescan be a wireless host device. As an example, the wireless host devicecan be a computing device (e.g., personal computer, media device, etc.).The other of the wireless devices can be a peripheral device, anaccessory or another computing device. As examples, a peripheral devicecan be a data storage device, a printer, or an input device (e.g.,mouse, keyboard). An accessory device can, for example, be a headset,earphones or remote controller. In one embodiment, a media device can bea mobile phone, a media player (e.g., portable media player), a dockingstation for a portable media player, or a dedicated media appliance.

Embodiments of this aspect of the invention are discussed below withreference to FIGS. 1-7. However, those skilled in the art will readilyappreciate that the detailed description given herein with respect tothese figures is for explanatory purposes as the invention extendsbeyond these limited embodiments.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a wireless pairing system 100 according toone embodiment of the invention. The wireless pairing system 100includes a host device 102 and a wireless device 104. The host device102 is an electronic device, such as a personal computer, a mobilecommunication device, a portable media device, etc. The wireless device104 is an electronic device that can be used in conjunction with thehost device 102. For example, the wireless device 104 can be aperipheral device or an accessory device that augments the capabilitiesof the host device 102. As a specific example, the wireless device 104,for example, could pertain to a wireless headset that is used inconjunction with the host device 102 that provides media playback (e.g.,audio and/or video playback). Typically, the wireless device 104 iscoupled to the host device 102 in a wireless manner. That is, thewireless device 104 need not be physically connected with the hostdevice 102. Instead, a wireless link can be facilitated by a localwireless network 106. The wireless link connects the host device 102 tothe wireless device 104 via the local wireless network 106. The localwireless network 106 is often referred to as a piconet, which is a shortrange local wireless network. One example of the local wireless network106 is a BLUETOOTH network.

In addition, according to the invention, to facilitate pairing of thehost device 102 with the wireless device 104, a cable 108 is coupledbetween the host device 102 and the wireless device 104. Typically, thecable 108 is coupled to the host device 102 and the wireless device 104during a pairing operation. However, the cable 108 could also couple thehost device 102 and the wireless device 104 at other times if sodesired. Once paired, however, the host device 102 would typicallycommunicate with the wireless device 104 by way of the local wirelessnetwork 106.

According to the invention, the wireless device 104 is able to be pairedwith the host device 102 without requiring user input of a pin code. Inother words, instead of the user of the wireless device 104 beingrequired to enter a pin code, the required pin code can be delivered tothe wireless device 104 over the cable 108. As such, the user does nothave to remember and enter the appropriate pin code, thus the pairingcan be performed in a substantially automated manner that reducescumbersome and tedious pairing actions that a user would otherwise haveto perform. Failed pairing attempts can also be reduced given that userpin code entry errors no longer contribute to failed pairing attempts.

FIG. 2 is a diagram of a wireless system 200 according to one embodimentof the invention. The wireless system 200 includes an accessory device202 and a host device 204. As an example, the accessory device 202 canrepresent the wireless device 104 illustrated in FIG. 1, and the hostdevice 204 can represent the host device 102 illustrated in FIG. 1.

The accessory device 202 is typically a portable device that is poweredby a battery 206. The accessory device 202 also includes at least acontroller 208, a user input device 210, a user output device 211, and amemory 212. The controller 208 controls the overall operation of theaccessory device 202. The user input device 210 enables a user tointeract with the accessory device 202. As an example, the user inputdevice 210 can include a button that enables a user to place theaccessory device 202 into a pairing mode. The user output device 211displays information for the user to view. As an example, the useroutput device 211 can be a display device (e.g., LCD display). Thememory 212 provides persistent data storage for various elements,including program code and data. Still further, the accessory device 202includes a transceiver 214. In one embodiment, the transceiver 214 is aradio-frequency (RF) transceiver. The transceiver 214 can output awireless transmission 216. Typically, the wireless transmission 216 isdirected toward the host device 204.

The host device 204 includes a transceiver 218 for the wirelesstransmission medium 216 (e.g., wireless link). The host device 204 alsoincludes at least a controller 220, a memory 222, an operating system224, application program(s) 226, an output device 228, and a user inputdevice 230. The controller 220 controls the overall operation of thehost device 204. The memory 222 can be used to store persistent data,including program code (e.g., for the operating system 224 and theapplication program(s) 226) and data. The operating system 224 togetherwith the controller 220 enables the host device 204 to not onlywirelessly receive transmissions from the accessory device 202, but toalso support and operate one or more application programs 226 as well asto utilize the output device 228 and the user input device 230.

The host device 204 can also include a wireless module 232. The wirelessmodule 232 can pertain to one or a set of integrated circuits thatprovide wireless communication functionality. The wireless module 232 isused when communicating over the wireless link 216 to the wirelessmodule 215. In this regard, the wireless module 232 couples to orincludes the transceiver 218. In one embodiment, the wireless module 232can store a pin code (or key) 234 that is used to pair wireless devices.

Besides the wireless link 216, the accessory device 202 and the hostdevice 204 can also communicate over a wired link 236. The wired link236 can be provided by a cable (which contains one or more wires)connected between the accessory device 202 and the host device 204. Theaccessory device 202 also includes a peripheral bus driver 238, and thehost device 204 also includes a peripheral bus driver 240. The wiredlink 236 can be established over the cable that connects the peripheralbus driver 238 of the accessory device 202 to the peripheral bus driver240 of the host device 204.

According to one aspect of the invention, the accessory device 202 canbe paired with the host device 204. When paired, the host device 204 isresponsive only to the accessory device 202. Hence, if there are otheraccessory devices in the vicinity of the host device 204, the hostdevice 204 understands to ignore wireless communications from such otheraccessory devices. In contrast, when unpaired, the host device 204 isresponsive to any compatible accessory devices in the vicinity.

Additional details are discussed below for the operations associatedwith pairing wireless devices (e.g., accessory devices) to host devices.When paired, a user of the accessory device 202 can interact with theone or more application programs 226 operating on the host device 204.For example, one type of application program 226 is a media playerprogram capable of playing digital media assets stored in the memory 222or some other memory accessible by the host device 204. Hence, the userof the accessory device 202 can interact with the user input device 210of the accessory device 202 to manipulate media playback controls, suchas volume changes, next track, previous track, and play and pauseoperations associated with the media player program. For other types ofapplication programs 226 available at the host device 204, theparticular controls or commands being provided by the accessory device202 to the host device 204 can vary widely depending upon theapplication.

FIGS. 3A and 3B are flow diagrams of a host device pairing process 300according to one embodiment of the invention. The host device pairingprocess 300 is, for example, performed by a host device. For example,the host device can, for example, pertain to the host device 102illustrated in FIG. 1 or the host device 204 illustrated in FIG. 2.

The host device pairing process 300 begins with a decision 302 thatdetermines whether a wired data link exists between a host device and awireless accessory device. When the decision 302 determines that a wireddata link is not present, the host device pairing process 300 awaits theavailability of a wired data link. On the other hand, when the decision302 determines that a wired data link is available, a decision 304determines whether a wireless data link is available. When the decision304 determines that a wireless data link is not available, the hostdevice pairing process 300 awaits the availability of a wireless datalink. Once the decision 304 determines that a wireless data link isavailable, then a pairing operation can be performed to pair togetherthe host device and the wireless accessory device. Hence, the followingprocessing assumes that the host device is not already paired with thewireless accessory device. In other words, the host device pairingprocess 300, or at least the following processing thereof, can beskipped if the host device and the wireless accessory device havealready been paired.

In any event, when the host device pairing process 300 continues, a pincode is retrieved 306. Typically, the pin code is retrieved 306 from thehost device itself. That is, the pin code is typically a pin code storedin a data storage device internal to the host device. For example, asillustrated in FIG. 2, the pin code 235 can be stored in the wirelessmodule 232. Once the pin code is retrieved 306, the pin code can be sent308 over the wired data link. Here, the pin code is sent 308 from thehost device to the wireless accessory device. Given that the pin code issent 308 over the wired data link established through physicalconnection, its transport is relatively secured from unauthorizedinterception. Optionally, the pin code could be encrypted for furthersecurity.

Next, a decision 310 determines whether authentication data has beenreceived. When the decision 310 determines that authentication data hasnot been received, the host device pairing process 300 awaits such data.Alternatively, when the decision 310 determines that authentication datahas been received, the authentication data is evaluated 312. In oneembodiment, the authentication data can be received at the host deviceas part of an authentication response being provided to the host deviceby the wireless accessory device. Following the evaluation 312 of theauthentication data, a decision 314 then determines whether the deviceshave been authenticated. When the decision 314 determines that thewireless accessory device has been authenticated to the host device, thehost device pairing process generates 316 one or more keys. Then, atleast one of the one or more keys is sent 318 to the wireless accessorydevice. Additionally, the at least one of the one or more keys can bestored at the host device. In one embodiment, the one or more keys canbe stored in the wireless module 232 of the host device 204. Followingthe block 318, the host device pairing process 300 ends. Also, followingthe decision 314 when authentication has not been successfully verified,the host device pairing process 300 ends while bypassing the operations316 and 318.

FIG. 4 is a flow diagram of a wireless device pairing process 400according to one embodiment of the invention. The wireless devicepairing process 400 is, for example, performed by a wireless accessorydevice. For example, the wireless accessory device can, for example,pertain to the wireless device 104 illustrated in FIG. 1 or theaccessory device 202 illustrated in FIG. 2. The wireless device pairingprocess 400 is complementary process to the host device pairing process300 illustrated in FIGS. 3A and 3B.

The wireless device pairing process 400 begins with a decision 402 thatdetermines whether a wired data link exists between a host device and awireless accessory device. When the decision 402 determines that a wireddata link is not present, the wireless device pairing process 400 awaitsthe availability of a wired data link. When the decision 402 determinesthat a wired data link is present, a decision 404 determines whether awireless data link is present. When the decision 404 determines that thewireless data link is not present, the wireless device pairing process400 can await its availability.

Once the decision 404 determines that a wireless data link is available,then a pairing operation can be performed to pair together the hostdevice and the wireless accessory device. Hence, the followingprocessing assumes that the host device is not already paired with thewireless accessory device. In other words, the wireless device pairingprocess 400, or at least the following processing thereof, can beskipped if the host device and the wireless accessory device havealready been paired.

Accordingly, when the decision 404 determines that the wireless datalink is available, a decision 406 determines whether a pin code has beenreceived. The pin code is provided to the wireless accessory device overthe wired data link according to one embodiment of the invention. Asillustrated in FIG. 3A, the block 308 operates to send the pin code tothe wireless accessory device over the wired data link. When thedecision 406 determines that a pin code has not been received over thewired data link, the wireless device pairing process 400 can await thepin code. After a period of time, the waiting could cease and a usercould enter the required pin code or the wireless pairing process 400could end.

In any case, once the decision 406 determines that a pin code has beenreceived over the wired data link, authentication data is generated 408at the wireless accessory device based on the pin code. Theauthentication data is then sent 410 to the host device. In oneembodiment, the authentication data is sent to the host device over thewireless data link. However, in an alternative embodiment, theauthentication data could be sent over the wired data link. In any case,after the authentication data has been sent 410, a decision 412determines whether a key has been received from the host device. Here,assuming that the host device determines that the wireless accessorydevice is indeed authenticated, pairing can be completed by storing keysat the wireless device as well as at the host device. In one embodiment,these keys can be referred to as link keys, in accordance with BLUETOOTHshort range local wireless network protocol. Hence, the decision 412determines whether a key has been received. When the decision 412determines that a key has not yet been received, the wireless devicepairing process 400 awaits receipt of a key. Once the decision 412determines that a key has been received, the received key is stored 414at the wireless device. The received key is then subsequently used toauthenticate the wireless device to the host device prior to thetransfer of data between the wireless device and the host device. Thewireless device and the host device have thus been successfully pairedand are able to exchange data over the wireless data link. Following theblock 414, the wireless device pairing process 400 ends.

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram of a host pairing process 500 according to oneembodiment of the invention. The host pairing process 500 is, forexample, performed by a host device, such as the host device 102illustrated in FIG. 1 or the host device 204 illustrated in FIG. 2.

The host pairing process 500 begins with a decision 502 that determineswhether a peripheral bus connection has been established between thehost device and the wireless accessory device. The peripheral busconnection is a wired connection and examples of which are UniversalSerial Bus (USB) and Firewire. When the decision 502 determines that aperipheral bus connection has not been established, the host pairingprocess 500 can await the presence of a peripheral bus connection. Inone implementation, the host pairing process 500 could be initiatedautomatically when a peripheral bus connection is established betweenthe host device and a wireless accessory device.

In any event, once the decision 502 determines that a peripheral busconnection has been established, a decision 504 determines whether thehost device has already been paired to the wireless accessory device.When the decision 504 determines that the host device is already pairedto the wireless accessory device, the host pairing process 500 endssince pairing processing is not required. On the other hand, when thedecision 504 determines that the host device is not already paired withthe wireless accessory device, a pairing request is sent 506 over thewireless network from the host device to the wireless accessory device.A pin code is also retrieved 508. The pin code is retrieved 508 from thehost device itself. For example, the host device can include a wirelessmodule (e.g., wireless module 232) that stores within the wirelessmodule at least one pin code. The pin code can be presented 510 via anoutput device associated with the host device. Here, the pin code can bepresented 510 (e.g., displayed) on the output device of the host device.The pin code is also sent 512 to the wireless accessory device over theperipheral bus. Thereafter, assuming that the host device is able toauthenticate the accessory device through use of the pin code, keyexchange is performed 514 over the wireless network. The key exchangemeans that the host device will store at least one key (e.g., link key)that will be used to exchange data with the wireless accessory devicevia the wireless network. However, prior to or part of the key exchange,the host device first authenticates the accessory device. Theauthentication is dependent on the proper pin code being available atthe wireless accessory device. Following the block 514, the host pairingprocess 500 ends with the host device being successfully paired with thewireless device.

FIG. 6 is a flow diagram of an accessory pairing process 600 accordingto one embodiment of the invention. The accessory pairing process 600is, for example, performed by a wireless accessory device, such as thewireless device 104 illustrated in FIG. 1 or the accessory device 202illustrated in FIG. 2. The accessory pairing process 600 iscomplementary process to the host device pairing process 500 illustratedin FIG. 5.

The accessory pairing process 600 begins with a decision 602 thatdetermines whether a pairing request has been received over the wirelessnetwork. When the decision 602 determines that a pairing request has notbeen received, the accessory pairing process 600 awaits such a request.Alternatively, when the decision 602 determines that a pairing requesthas been received over the wireless network, the accessory pairingprocess 600 continues. In other words, in this embodiment, the accessorypairing process 600 is effectively invoked upon receipt of a pairingrequest.

When the accessory pairing process 600 continues, a pin code promptscreen is presented 604. Typically, in a conventional fashion, a userwould enter a pin code into the prompt screen. However, the pin code isable to be provided automatically (i.e., without user input) accordingto the invention. In this regard, a decision 606 determines whether aperipheral bus (PB) connection has been established between the wirelessaccessory device and the host device. When the decision 606 determinesthat a peripheral bus connection has been established, a decision 608determines whether a pin code has been received from the host deviceover the peripheral bus. When the decision 608 determines that the pincode has been received over the peripheral bus, then the pin code can besubmitted 610. For example, the pin code can be automatically enteredinto the pin code prompt screen and then submitted. In this manner,instead of the user being burdened to enter the unknown pin code, thepin code can be automatically delivered to the wireless accessory deviceand submitted without the user having to enter it. However, when thedecision 606 determines that the peripheral bus connection is notestablished, or when the decision 608 determines that the pin code hasnot been received over the peripheral bus, a decision 612 can determinewhether a user has entered the pin code. For example, the user can bepermitted to enter the pin code using the pin code prompt screen. Whenthe decision 612 determines that the user has not entered a pin code,the accessory pairing process 600 returns to repeat the decision 608 sothat the pin code can potentially still be delivered to the wirelessaccessory device by way of the peripheral bus.

Alternatively, when the decision 612 determines that the user hasentered a pin code, the pin code can be submitted 610. Accordingly,although the improvement offered by the invention is the delivery of thepin code to the wireless accessory device over a data link, namely, awired data link, one embodiment can still permit a user to enter the pincode in the event that the pin code is not delivered over a data link.In any event, after the pin code has been submitted 610, key exchangecan be performed 614 between the host device and the wireless accessorydevice over the wireless network. In this regard, the pairing operationhas been successfully performed and the key exchange permits the paireddevices to thereafter be authenticated so that data transfer can beperformed between the paired devices. Following the block 614, theaccessory pairing process 600 ends.

According to one embodiment, when a wireless device connects with a hostdevice by way of a wireless network and a wired medium, pairing can beperformed. When the connection via the wired medium is made, not onlycan a pin code be transferred but other data or energy (e.g., for powerand/or charging a battery) can also be transferred via the wired medium.In other words, the wired medium can serve various purposes, only one ofwhich is assisting with pairing operations.

Assuming that pairing has been successful between a wireless host deviceand a wireless accessory device, thereafter, data transfer can beperformed between the wireless host device and the wireless accessorydevice in a secured and controlled manner through use of a key (e.g.,link key) that was established during the pairing operation.

FIG. 7 is a flow diagram of wireless data transfer between a wirelesshost device and a wireless accessory device that have been successfullypaired.

The wireless data transfer process 700 begins with a decision 702 thatdetermines whether a connection to the wireless accessory device isdesired. When the decision 702 determines that a connection from thewireless host device to the wireless accessory device is not desired,then the wireless data transfer process 700 is effectively not invoked.Alternatively, when the decision 702 determines that a connectionbetween the wireless host device and the wireless accessory device isdesired, the wireless data transfer process 700 is effectively invoked.In such case, a decision 702 determines whether the wireless host devicehas a link key for use with the wireless accessory device. When thewireless host device does not have such a link key, the desiredconnection is not available 706. Typically, in this case, the wirelesshost device has not been successfully paired with the wireless accessorydevice and thus does not have a link key that facilitates data transferwith the wireless accessory device.

On the other hand, when the decision 704 determines that the wirelesshost device does have an appropriate link key for use with the wirelessaccessory device, the wireless host device connects 708 to the wirelessaccessory device using the known link key. With the connection beingestablished, data can then be transmitted over a wireless link providedby the connection between the wireless host device and the wirelessaccessory device. Next, a decision 712 determines whether the connectionis to be closed. When the decision 712 determines that the connection isnot to be closed, data transfer over the wireless link can continue tobe transferred 710. As an example, the wireless accessory device can bea headset and the wireless host device can be a media player or mobilephone. In either case, the user can use the headset to exchange datawith the media player or mobile phone in a wireless manner.Alternatively, when the decision 712 determines that the connectionshould be closed, the connection is then closed 714. Following the block714, as well as following the block 706, the wireless data transferprocess 700 ends.

Although various embodiments discussed above use a wireless accessorydevice as one of the wireless devices being paired, the invention is notlimited to wireless accessory devices. A wireless accessory device is awireless device that can be used in conjunction with a host devicethrough wireless means. The invention is, however, applicable to pairingwireless devices in general. Hence, neither of a pair of wirelessdevices being paired is necessarily an accessory device.

The various aspects, embodiments, implementations or features of theinvention can be used separately or in any combination.

The invention can be implemented by software, hardware or a combinationof hardware and software. The invention can also be embodied as computerreadable code on a computer readable medium. The computer readablemedium is any data storage device that can store data which canthereafter be read by a computer system. Examples of the computerreadable medium include read-only memory, random-access memory, CD-ROMs,DVDs, magnetic tape, optical data storage devices, and carrier waves.The computer readable medium can also be distributed overnetwork-coupled computer systems so that the computer readable code isstored and executed in a distributed fashion.

The advantages of the invention are numerous. Different aspects,embodiments or implementations may yield one or more of the followingadvantages. One advantage of the invention is that wireless devices canbe paired without any need for a user enter a pin code that is often notreadily available to the user. In other words, pairing of wirelessdevices can be achieved in a substantially automated manner. Anotheradvantage of the invention is that a required pin code for pairing apair of wireless devices can be transferred between the wireless devicesover a wired medium that offers physical security for the pin code beingtransferred.

The many features and advantages of the present invention are apparentfrom the written description. Further, since numerous modifications andchanges will readily occur to those skilled in the art, the inventionshould not be limited to the exact construction and operation asillustrated and described. Hence, all suitable modifications andequivalents may be resorted to as falling within the scope of theinvention.

1. A method for pairing a host device with a wireless device, saidmethod comprising: at the host device; detecting a wired data linkbetween the host device and the wireless device; establishing a wirelessdata link between the host device and the wireless device; retrieving apin code internal to the host device; sending the pin code to thewireless device over the wired data link; receiving authentication datafrom the wireless device; presenting the pin code, after said receiving,on an output device of the host device; authenticating the wirelessdevice based on the received authentication data; and completing pairingof the host device with the wireless device when the wireless device hasbeen authenticated.
 2. A method as recited in claim 1, whereincompleting pairing comprises: generating one or more keys when thewireless device has been authenticated; and sending at least one of theone or more keys from the host device to the wireless device when thepairing is successful.
 3. A method as recited in claim 2, wherein saidreceiving of the authentication data is over the wireless data link. 4.A method as recited in claim 2, wherein said sending of the at least oneof the one or more keys is over the wireless data link.
 5. A method asrecited in claim 2, wherein said sending of the at least one of the oneor more keys is over the wired data link.
 6. A method as recited inclaim 2, wherein the one or more keys include a link key or a keyderived from the link key.
 7. A method as recited in claim 1, whereinsaid receiving of the authentication data is over the wired data link.8. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said method furthercomprises: receiving at least one key from the wireless device when thepairing is successful.
 9. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein saidauthenticating operates to authenticate the received authentication databased on the pin code.
 10. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein thehost device operates at least one application program that makes use ofa user interface, and wherein said method further comprises:intercepting, prior to said sending, the pin code via the applicationprogram or the user interface.
 11. A method as recited in claim 1,wherein the host device operates at least one application program,wherein the host device also includes a wireless module thatparticipates in at least pairing and data transfer, and wherein the atleast one application interacts with the wireless module during pairingor data transfer.
 12. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the pincode is presented using a pin code notification screen.
 13. A method asrecited in claim 1, wherein the wired data link is provided over acable.
 14. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the wired data linkis provided over a wired medium that physically provides one or moreelectrical connections.
 15. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein thewired data link is provided via a peripheral bus.
 16. A method asrecited in claim 15, wherein the peripheral bus is a USB or Firewirebus.
 17. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the wireless data linkis over a local wireless network in accordance with the BLUETOOTH shortrange local wireless network protocol.
 18. A host computing device withsupport for a wired data link and a wireless data link, said devicecomprising: a connection manager configured to detect a wired data linkbetween the host computing device and a wireless device; a wirelesstransceiver for transferring data between the host computing device andthe wireless device over a wireless data link; an output deviceconfigured to present a pin code; a pairing manager operativelyconnected to said connection manager and said wireless transceiver, saidpairing manager manages pairing of the host computing device and thewireless device, and said pairing manager operable to: (i) retrieve apin code internal to the host computing device, (ii) send the pin codeto the wireless device over the wired data link, iii receiveauthentication data from the wireless device, (iv) present, afterreceiving the authentication data, the pin code on the output device,(v) authenticate the wireless device based on the receivedauthentication data; and (vi) complete pairing of the host device withthe wireless device when the wireless device has been authenticated. 19.A host computing device as recited in claim 18, wherein the receivedauthentication data is dependent on the pin code that was sent to thewireless device over the wired data link.
 20. A host computing device asrecited in claim 18, wherein said pairing manager is further operable to(vii) generate one or more keys when the wireless device has beenauthenticated, and (viii) send at least one of the one or more keys fromthe host device to the wireless device when the pairing is successful.21. A host computing device as recited in claim 18, wherein saidconnection manager comprises a peripheral bus driver for detecting thewired data link between the host computing device and the wirelessdevice.
 22. A host computing device as recited in claim 18, wherein saidhost computing device is a personal computer.